Tag: del rey

ARC Book Review: Prince of Swords (Arcana Academy #2) by Elise Kova

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 560 pages
Author: Elise Kova
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: July 21st, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Welcome back to Arcana Academy. Tarot magic, forbidden desire, battle, and betrayal collide for the power to change the world in the thrilling second book of this New York Times bestselling fantasy romance series.

I am terrified. Yet my heart skips a beat. This man might be a monster, but he is my monster.

Clara Graysword is Oricalis’s most wanted. Hunted and cornered, not even her mastery of tarot can save her this time . . . until the mysterious Worldkeepers appear. This secretive order may hold the key to changing Clara’s fate. If she dares to trust them.

But the most dangerous alliance of all is one she’s already deeply ensnared Prince Kaelis.

Kaelis, second-born prince of Oricalis and headmaster of Arcana Academy, is the one man she can’t escape—maybe she doesn’t want to escape. Ruthless, dangerous, and bound to Clara by destiny and desire, Kaelis tests her heart as much as her loyalty. Together, they grow closer to the most powerful secrets of the tarot . . . and to the truths they both hide that could destroy the passion that they no longer deny.

Hidden in plain sight within Arcana Academy, Clara walks the dagger’s edge. Revelations about Oricalis threaten everything she thought she knew, and every choice she makes is the difference between salvation and ruin.

To change the world, Clara must risk everything—her power, her beliefs, and her heart.

Thank you to Del Rey for the gifted eARC.

BRUTAL CLIFFHANGER.

And I love a brutal cliffhanger. Leave me grasping for more and begging for the next book because that is absolutely the case here. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW.

This did start off a bit slow and I was worried for the progression of the story. But never fear, Elise Kova delivers again. There is something about morally gray characters that I just love. Clare and Kaelis flaunt this line beautifully. I loved the deceptions and twists. Spending my time trying to figure out what new secret was going to unveil and honestly WHO WAS GOING TO SURVIVE.

I became obsessed with Kaelis and his romantic notions. For all of his dark void-ness and deeds, he was SO DOWN BAD for Claire. I loved that EK gave us soft smiles and genuine laughter and the boyish looks. It added all sorts of layers to his character and I can’t wait to see how that works out in the conclusion.

There were a couple other things I loved that would be spoiler adjacent if you haven’t read the first book so I won’t say more on that other than the other relationships in Clare’s life were good to see too. How she slowly learned to let people in and find those she could be honest with.

Insane ending that I have all of the questions about and need answers desperately!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: recounted torture, loss of life, PTSD

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: Arcana Academy (Arcana Academy #1) by Elise Kova

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 576 pages
Author: Elise Kova
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: July 22nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy in this first installment of an enthralling romantasy series from the bestselling author of A Deal with the Elf King.

Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards-a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy.

Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy’s enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape-for a price. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create an all-powerful card long lost to time.

In order to conceal her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be.

Thrust into a world of arcane magic and royal intrigue, where one misstep will send her back to prison or worse, Clara finds that the prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems. But can she risk giving him power over the world-and her heart? Or will she take it for herself?

Thank you to Del Rey and Elise Kova for a gifted ARC.

ELISE KOVA DOES NOT MISS.

Did you know, I have read all of Elise Kova’s books? I am a major fan girl and I have been so excited for this new series and it absolutely delivered. This was one of the COOLEST magic systems!!! I loved all of the tarot cards and majors and how they all wove into the world. The houses and academy were an intriguing aspect I look forward to seeing more of in book two.

AND THE ROMANCE? THIS IS HOW YOU DO ENEMIES TO LOVERS. I have been begging for an enemies book with actual enemies and BLESS. I GOT IT. The building tension between Clara and Kaelis was exquisite. Thank heavens for a true slow burn as swell.

One thing I love about EK books is never knowing who is going to make it out alive. The ruthlessness of her game creates such a harrowing dynamic as the pages turn. But alongside that I love the deep friendships that are built and the trust communicated between characters too. The ending will send you into the stratosphere because I am always here for a cliffhanger.

There’s just so many nuanced things I loved about this book y’all. It’s a great place to start for Elise Kova (BUT DON’T FORGET TO READ AIR AWAKENS TOO).

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance; 2-3 open door
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content warnings: loss of life, murder

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: Silver Elite by Dani Francis

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Dystopian Fantasy Romance
Length: 528 pages
Author: Dani Francis
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: May 6th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the first book of a searing new dystopian trilogy, a young woman must conceal her psychic powers—and her attraction to her handsome, infuriating commanding officer—as she works undercover to take down a brutal government from within.

The world is divided. On the Continent, you’re either a Prime—immune to the biotoxin that nearly wiped out the Earth’s population 150 years ago—or a Modified, one who was enhanced by the toxin, developing powerful psychic gifts.

As conflict rages between the two sides, Wren Darlington lives in hiding. Occasionally running the odd op for the rebel Uprising against the Primes’ oppressive rule, she must keep a low profile. After all, if the enemy finds out that she is a Mod with a staggering four psychic abilities, she won’t just be sent to the labor camps. She’ll be executed—immediately and without trial.

When a careless mistake puts Wren in the crosshairs of the Continent’s military, she is taken captive and forced to join their most elite Silver Block. Unwittingly, they’ve handed her the perfect opportunity for the Uprising to strike a devastating blow from inside their ranks. That is, if she can keep her powers hidden, survive training, and prove herself to Cross Redden, her maddeningly cocky commanding officer.

Despite the explosive chemistry between them, Cross doesn’t trust her—even as he seems determined to destroy the remaining shreds of Wren’s self-control. Yet as the war between Primes and Mods escalates, and as Wren and Cross find themselves unable to stay away from each other, they must decide how far they’re willing to go for their secrets—and how much of the Continent is worth saving.

WHOA.

This honestly wasn’t on my radar until release day and I feel very fortunately Libby delivered a copy so quickly because OH MY GOSH WHERE HAVE I BEEN. This was like adult Divergent (but I swear if it ends the same you will feel my wrath across the globe) but add in more romance and I was SO HERE FOR IT ALL.

I can’t even go over everything I want to because there’s so much to unpack. The action was INTENSE and I loved the hidden identities and crossing loyalties and how the magic aspects worked into this dystopian-esque world.

I loved Wren, the FMC. She was wild and tenacious while battling grief and taking what she hoped would be the next best step. I loved that both sides have some twisted backgrounds because I think the exploration of that in the next book will be amazing. I want all of the history between these warring groups.

And the romance was heated. Such an amazing slow burn that was filled with that I hate you but I love you banter that sends me every time. There were a few key moments that my feet kicking and my voice squealing. The audiobook was incredible at bringing this book to life. Good heavens I need book two YESTERDAY.

Overall audience notes:

  • Dystopian Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 4-5+ open door
  • Violence: high

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

ARC Book Review: A Dance of Lies (A Dance of Lies #1) by Brittney Arena

GoodeyReads1 Comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: Brittney Arena
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: June 10th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A debut fantasy romance filled with hope after heartbreak, secrets, and betrayal, as a dancer-turned-spy must decide how far she will go to secure her freedom

My protector is gone, revealed to be a monster. But I remind myself that I am not a damsel. I’m no princess bound within a tower.

I am a shadow.

Vasalie Moran was once a dancer in King Illian’s court, until he framed her for murder. Barely surviving her two years in the dungeons, she’s suddenly called to face her king. He offers her a deal: become his spy at the six-week royal Gathering and he’ll grant her freedom.

As Illian’s orders grow bloody and dangerous, forcing her to harm and betray those around her, Vasalie discovers that the monster she serves may be aligned with a bigger monster—one far closer to home. With her world threatened, Vasalie enlists the help of Illian’s brother and greatest adversary, the infamous King of the East.

As the rivalry between brothers escalates, with Vasalie caught in the middle, the horrifying truth of her past comes to light. If she wants to survive, she must decide who to trust, who to fight for, and how much of her soul she’s willing to damn in the process.

Thank you to the author and Del Rey for the gifted ARC.

THIS WAS EVERYTHING.

I am someone who prefers to read my ARCs in order but this book was CALLING TO ME. And it DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Oh my goodness this will absolutely be one of my favorite fantasy romances of 2025.

Something I loved the most was that the focus was not on adding spice for the sake of it (in fact this book does not have any spice). The emotions were the focus and the slow burn journey as Vasalie is put into a perilous situation that could cost her everything, or might save the nation too.

I loved Vasalie. As someone who struggles with chronic pain there was an abundance of sentiments throughout (I highlighted the heck out of this book) that I resonated with and felt deep in my soul. I admired her strength and acknowledgement of her short comings, but also how far she has risen and her tenacity to honor her body and do her best.

The ROMANCE. I don’t want to say much on this front because I think it will truly be best experienced by reading the book without a lot of context. I loved everything about it and how the movement of the romantic aspects coincided beautifully with the political intrigue. All of the dance content had me wishing I could see these dances live because they were wonderfully written and crafted.

It’s a slow journey that is worth the build. So many moments stood out to me and I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. I anxiously await getting my hands on the sequel.

An incredible debut you must take a chance on.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: heated make-outs
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: emotional abuse, physical abuse, alcoholism, PTSD, panic attacks, trauma, violence against children, graphic death, chronic illness, disability and sexism (these were taken from the front of my copy)

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph